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Reviews & Testimonials for History of Rhythm & Blues It’s rare to come
across a record that is so perfect, and so perfectly insane, that it
encapsulates everything you need to know about music fandom in one package, but
such is this. The description ‘labour of love doesn’t begin to do justice to
the effort involved in ferreting out such a finely chosen set of tracks and
presenting them so ideally. It’s a four disc set with an erudite and
entertaining accompanying booklet packaged in a foldout paperback-sized case
(that includes recording personnel, original catalogue numbers, pictures and
the like), and ninety seven (!) tracks, where familiar names such as Cab
Calloway and Louis Armstrong sit alongside the more likes of the delightfully
named Bumble Bee Slim. Jeremy Searle - RocknReel July 2008 The first three
tracks on the set (by Austin Coleman, Blind Willie Johnson & Jessie May
Hill) are some of the most powerful examples of early Afro-American music
that has ever been recorded and they should be mandatory listening for all.
Wow, what a wondrous thing this is!! 'The History
Of Rhythm And Blues Part 1, 1925 to 1942' is a voyage of discovery, an
enchanting and learned compilation stretching over four discs. Call it history,
call it roots - it matters not! What's important is that what you hear within
these four stunning discs helped to shape and model today's music. And hey, this is only part one - there's
obviously more to come - what a work, what a commitment, and what a blast!! This superb anthology is split into four discreet
and seamless sections as follows ; Disc 1 - Country Blues And Spirituals, Jug
Bands And Hokum, Disc 2 - Piano Boogie-Woogie, Ragtime And Jazz, Disc 3 - Urban
Blues And Gospel and lastly, Disc 4 - After Hours Swing And Jive. The compilers have been careful not to
simply make this a 'blues' work; they've been realistic and honest in their
work which finds blues, folk, gospel and other urban styles melding into more
syncopated forms such as jazz, swing, jive and so on. Thus, you start to get the bigger picture as you work your way
through this epically proportioned anthology - you see gaps being filled and
ideas and forms being stretched over time.
There are famous names and not so famous names, there are songs that
you'll recognise and there are songs that you'll hear for the first time - but,
all played their part in shaping the big rock and roll explosion of the 50's
and all influenced what you listen to today under multi-genre headings,
individual styles and nuances and so on. 'The History Of Rhythm And Blues' is as important
as it is educational - this is quite possibly the best put together assemblage
of 'roots' music - ever. Lovingly compiled by Nick Duckett and Consultant
Stewart Tippett and beautifully presented with an enclosed booklet which 'tells
the story', this is like an 'everyman's guide to the development and growth of
modern, popular music'. Musical purists and scholars will love this work simply
for its facts - music lovers from all age groups will find this work
fascinating and rewarding and anyone who has the slightest interest in musical
history should find this a joy to behold. Scratchy and naive maybe but that's how it was and
that how it has to be. Listen to the lyrics and realise that what these
innovators sang about doesn't differ very much from today's outpourings. Pick
out nuances, syncopations, riffs and melodies that occur and re-occur through
the ages. See where we learned, feel what influenced us and just enjoy the
truth of it all!! Marvel at the
creativity of these artists and take into consideration what they had available
to them back then - be amazed at the content, the gritty believability, the
passion and the dedication to a cause.
Compare what's on offer here to where we are today - listen and learn,
feel and be touched! 'The History Of Rhythm And Blues Part 1, 1925 to
1942' is a massive compilation; educational and fulfilling, it's as rewarding
as it is fascinating - a piece of musical history that'll sit well in anyone's
collection - glory in it's depth, revel in its creation and just enjoy all
ninety-seven tracks for exactly what they are - an important musical history
lesson, moments in musical time that shaped what we listen to today. 'The
History Of Rhythm And Blues Part 1, 1925 to 1942' is a genuine beauty!! This may well be as
invaluable an aid to the historian or researcher of blues music as the
dictionary is to the crossword puzzler…this is a fascinating study. ‘Noggin’ - Blues Matters May 2008 Jeremy Searle - Short Takes - Rocknreel July 2008
Another stonker! This is a tasty compilation
that covers plenty of bases. Paul Raymond - Men Only May 2008 This set is
everything and more that the reviews above say. It is obviously a labour of
love and is intelligently programmed. The sound quality is as good as one could
hope for and it's far more than "a beginners guide". Redbeard - Amazon
2008 excellent and extensive detailed sleeve notes…an excellent beginners guide whilst also including some more obscure gems for afficionados. I look forward to Volume Two. Simon Wright - Bucketful of Brains 2008 Disc one has some memorable songs by some of the most important blues singers. Disc two has some jazz contributions not usually found in blues compilations. The third disc has some artists that tend to be overlooked in sets like this. Disc four has some swinging, jumping and joyful music with well-known standards and artists…the sound quality is very good and I enjoyed listening to all four discs. Compilations that attempt to give a history of blues can be important in introducing newcomers to the joys and delights of the music. Paul Oliver s collaboration with CBS in 1970 (gulp was it that long ago?) in producing the double LP The Story Of The Blues was instrumental in helping many people to become enthused and to find out more about blues. Perhaps this set will do the same for people in the 21st century that previous compilations did for me, and so many others several decades ago. Paul Mooney - Blues & Rhythm May 2008
Disc One – The
Blues From The Delta To The City Country Blues And
Spirituals, Jug Bands & Hokum Disc Two – The
Rhythm Piano
Boogie-Woogie Ragtime & Jazz Disc Three - Up
River To Chicago Urban Blues &
Gospel After Hours Swing Boogie & Jive Disc Four - Jazzin' The Blues After Hours Swing Boogie & Jive Austin Coleman Blind Willie Johnson Jessie May Hill Papa Charlie Jackson Blind Joe Reynolds Frank Stokes/Beale Street Sheiks Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers Blind Lemon Jefferson Blind Blake Sleepy John Estes Barbecue Bob Curley Weaver Bobby Leecan and Robert Cooksey Pearl Dickson Jim Jackson Jimmie Rodgers Memphis Minnie Hambone Willie Newbern Skip James Scrapper Blackwell Georgia Tom Bryant's Jubilee Quartet Kokomo Arnold Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra Lonnie Johnson Bessie Smith Louis Armstrong Muggsy Spanier Pinetop Smith Cow Cow Davenport Blind Roosevelt Graves And Brother Speckled Red Little Brother Montgomery Rufus and Ben Quillian The Mills Brothers Three Keys Cripple Clarence Lofton Roosevelt Sykes The Harlem Hamfats Lil Johnson Georgia White Louie Lasky Leroy Carr Johnnie Temple Bumble Bee Slim Bill Gaither Walter Davis Jazz Gillum Elder Otis Jones Golden Gate Jubilee
Quartet Jimmie Gordon Sister Rosetta Tharpe Tampa Red John Lee "Sonny Boy Williamson Big Bill Broonzy Big Maceo Champion Jack Dupree Doctor Clayton Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings Count Basie [Jones-Smith Inc.] Benny Goodman Jimmie Lunceford Cab Calloway King Cole Trio Three Sharps And A Flat The Cats & The Fiddle Erskine Hawkins and his Orchestra Peetie Wheatstraw Joe Turner Will Bradley Pete Johnson Lewis Bronzeville Five Jay McShann Louis Jordan Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy Ella Mae Morse Lionel Hampton Orchestra T-Bone Walker
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